Phil Kelso Explained

Phil Kelso
Fullname:Philip Wade Kelso
Birth Date:1871 5, df=y
Birth Place:Largs, Scotland
Death Place:London, England
Manageryears1:1903–1904
Managerclubs1:Hibernian
Manageryears2:1904–1908
Managerclubs2:Woolwich Arsenal
Manageryears3:1909–1924
Managerclubs3:Fulham

Phil Wade Kelso (26 May 1871 – 13 February 1935), born in Largs on the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, was a Scottish football manager.

Career

Kelso was manager of Hibernian for one season,[1] before taking over as manager of Woolwich Arsenal shortly before their promotion in 1904.[2] He managed the club for four years, during which time he took the side to the FA Cup semi-finals two consecutive seasons; however, his best in the league was seventh (in 1906-07).[3]

With the club starting to run into financial trouble and with results declining, Kelso resigned in 1908 to return to Scotland to manage a hotel;[4] but was tempted back down south to become manager of Fulham in 1909. He stayed with the Cottagers for 15 years, making him their longest-serving manager.[5]

Personal life

Kelso worked at the Royal Arsenal during the First World War.[6] After retiring from football he managed pubs in the Hammersmith area and was chairman of the Football League Managers and Secretaries Association. Kelso died in London, in 1935, aged 63. He is buried in East Sheen.

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007142944/http://www.hibsprogrammes.co.uk/philkelso.html Phil Kelso
  2. Book: Soar, Phil . The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal . Tyler, Martin . Hamlyn . 2005 . 0-600-61344-5 . 31 . amp.
  3. Web site: Woolwich Arsenal . Football Club History Database.
  4. Soar & Tyler (2005) p. 32
  5. Web site: Phil Kelso . FulhamFC.com.
  6. Web site: Fulham Players and the First World War – University of Wolverhampton . www.wlv.ac.uk . 10 February 2020.